Automatic drain valve for crankcase ventilators



P 22, 1953 D. s. NUSBAUM 2,652,819

AUTOMATIC DRAIN VALVE FOR CRANKCASE VENTILATORS Filed April 19, 1951INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STA'lEfi EA'i'ENT QFFICE AUTOMATIG DRAINVALVE FOR GRANKCASE VENTILATORS 12 Claims, 1

This invention relates to improvements. in automatic drain valve forcrankcase ventilators.

The principal objects of this invention are: First, to provide a valvefor draining crankcase ventilator systems of the vacuum operated type,which valve operates automatically to drain accumulated liquid when theengine is notoperating.

Second, to provide a drain valve fora crankcase ventilator which closesto maintain the vacuum inthe ventilator'whenever the engine isoperating.

Third'-, to provide vacuum or electrical activating mechanism for thedrain valve of a crankwill be apparent from consideration of thefollowing description and claims.

The drawings of which there is one sheet il-' lustrate two highlypractical forms of my automatic valve.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational View, partially broken away, of anautomotive engine with a vacuum crankcase ventilating system and myautomatic valve operatively associated therewith.

Fig. 2 an enlarged side elevational View of the crankcase ventilatorand.- valve partially broken 'awayin vertical cross section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational viewof a modified form of myvalve and valve actuating mechanism with electrical connections betweenthe valve actuating mechanism and ignition system of an engineconventionally illustrated.

It has previously been proposed, and com- -mercial devices areavailable, to control the ventilation of the crankcase of an internalcol. bustion engineby utilizing the vacuum of the intake manifold of theengine to suck out the gases, vapors and suspended particles from thecrankcase of the engine. The withdrawn vapors are subjected to aseparating action to separate Water and heavy liquids before the vaporsare filtered of foreign material and feed into the in take manifold ofthe engine where the vapors are burned along with the fuel. Theseparated water and liquid accumulates in a sump in the separator andmust be periodically removed to maintain' the ventilator in operativecondition.

Heretofore these sumps have been inconveniently located and haverequired direct access there to and removal from the body of theventilator which is a messy operation and not understood by many.service station attendants so. that the ventilators have not beenproperly serviced. My automatically operated drain valve eliminates thenecessity of obtaining direct access to the ventilator and furtherassures that the ventilator will be properly drained at all times.

One form of the crankcase ventilating system to which my automatic valvemay be attached is illustrated in the drawings. I indicates an internalcombustion engine having a crankcase 2 and intake manifold 3'. Oil issupplied to the crankcase through a conventional filler tube i and afilter cap 5. permits the entrance of air to the crankcase. Contaminatedair and vapors which result from the operation of the engine are suckedout of the crankcase through a tube 6 into the ventilator generallyindicated at l.

The ventilator '1 consists of a generally cylindrical housing 83 securedto the engine block by suitable clamps or brackets 9. The cover It ofthe housing is. provided with a connection II to a suction line l2 whichopens into the intake manifold 3 centrally of the manifold. The vacuumin the intake manifold thus operates through the bodyto withdraw theundesirable vapors from the crankcase. Commonly, regulating valves whichhave no connection with the present invention are incorporated in thebody to regulate the action of the ventilator.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 2 the ventilator body 8 is divided intoan upper filter chamber 13 and a lower sump M by a perforated partition15. A filter element is is positioned in the upper filter chamber toremove solids and gums from the vapors and the incoming vapors aredirected in a downward direction into the sump by a fitting ll withinthe body 8. Moisture and other easily condensed vapors which arewithdrawn from the crankcase as gases are cooled in passing through thevacuum line 5 and are delivered downwardly into the bottom of the sump il. Vapors which retain their vapor status pass upwardly through theperforated partition 55 as indicated by the arrows.

The amount of condensate it which collects in the bottom of the sumpvaries greatly with the condition of the particular engine concerned andthe conditions under which the engine is operated. l-iowe'veig'I havefound that a fairly new and tight engine operated in winter weather onrelatively short drives suchas are encountered in city driving willprecipitate cup of water or more for each to gallons of gasoline burnedin the engine. Thus the ventilator of an engine of this type requiresfrequent draining of the sump in winter weather, and older engines whichpermit more blow-by of combustion gases into the crankcases will requiremore frequent draining of the sump.

My Valve which drains the sump consists of a valve body [2 screwed intothe bottom of the ventilator body 8 and provided with a Z-shaped valvepassage 28 communicating at its upper end with the sump It. The middlebranch of the Z-shaped passage 23 forms an outwardly facing valve seat2! with which the needle valve 22 cooperates. The stem 23 of the valveextends outwardly through a cap 24 on the valve body and is axiallyslotted as at 25 on its outer end to receive the cross bar 26 of anactuating yoke 21. The lower branch of the valve passage 2!) isconnected to a drain pipe 28 to drain the liquid below the engine. Whileit forms no essential part of this invention, a drip pan 29 may beprovided in places where the vehicle is commonly parked, as in a garage,or a collecting receptacle may be mounted on the vehicle.

Secured to the underside of the ventilatorbody 8 by the valve body it isan angular shaped bracket 56, the downturned outer edge of which forms asupport for a vacuum motor 3!; the vacuum motor includes an internalflexible diaphragm 32 of a well known type and the outer or atmosphericside of the diaphragm is connected to a piston or connecting rod 33extending through the wall of the motor and the bracket 39. Links 34connect the connecting rod to the operating yoke 21. A second suctionline 35 opens between the vacuum side of the diaphragm 32 and a point 36in the intake manifold preferably spaced from the central connection ofthe suction pipe 12 to the manifold.

The outer end of the valve stem 23 is provided with a collar 3'5 and acompression spring 38 is positioned between the collar and the cap 22 tobias the valve 22 to open position. Obviously whenever the engine isoperating and creating a vacuum in the intake manifold 3 the vacuummotor 3| and diaphragm 32 will be operative to close the valve 22 sothat the crankcase ventilator i may function in its intended capacity.The entire suction applied to the ventilator will operate through thevacuum pipe 6 to withdraw vapors from the crankcase and liquid separatedfrom the vapors will collect in the sump M. As soon as the engine isstopped and the vacuum in the intake manifold is destroyed; the vacuummotor is inoperative and the spring 38 will open the valve 22 and permitthe sump to drain.

The modified form of my valve illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as thatjust described except that the valve stem 23A is not slotted at itsouter end but is directly connected to the armature of an electricallyoperating solenoid 31A. The solenoid MA is supported from the ventilatorby a modified form of bracket 30A and is arranged to force the valvestem 23A and valve 22 inwardly to closed position against thecompression of the spring whenever the solenoid is energized.

The circuit for energizing the solenoid 3| is conventionally illustratedand includes a ground connection 39 and a live connection All which isconnectable to the battery 4! of the engine through the ignition switch42. Thus whenever the ignition switch 52 is closed to energize the hightension coil 23 and distributor 44 of the engine, the solenoid 3IA willbe simultaneously energized to close the drain valve 22 so that theengine and the crankcase ventilator may function in their intendedmanner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcaseincluding a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottomthereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and saidcrankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to saidsump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump andincluding a movable valve element, and a vacuum motor operativelyconnected to the intake manifold of said engine to be operative when theengine is operating and connected to said valve element to close saidvalve, said valve element spring being biased to open position.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcaseincluding a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottomthereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and saidcrankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to saidsump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump andincluding a movable valve element, and a solenoid electrically connectedto the ignition circuit of said engine to be energized when the engineis operating and connected to said valve element to close said valve,said valve element being biased to open position.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcaseincluding a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottomthereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and saidcrankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to saidsump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump andincluding a movable valve element, and actuating means associated withsaid engine to b operative when the engine is operating and connected tosaid valve element to close said valve, said valve element being biasedto open position.

i. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcaseincluding a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottomthereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and saidcrankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to saidsump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump andincluding a movable valve element, and actuating means associated withsaid engine to be operative when the engine is operating and connectedto said valve element to close said valve.

5. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a vacuum operated crankcase ventilator associatedtherewith, the combination of a sump in said ventilator, a drain valveconnected to said sump and having a valve element extending externallyof the valve and spring biased to open position, a vacuum motor mountedon said engine and having a connecting rod, a suction conduit connectingsaid vacuum motor to said manifold, and means connecting said connectingrod to said valve element to move said element to closed positionagainst its spring bias upon the application of a vacuum to said motor.

6. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuumoperated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of asump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and havinga valve element extending externally of the valve and spring biased toopen position, a solenoid mounted on said engine, a conductorelectrically connecting said solenoid to the ignition circuit of theengine, and means mechanically connecting said solenoid to said valveelement to move said element to closed position against its spring biasupon closing the ignition circuit of said engine.

7. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuumoperated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of asump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and havinga valve element extending externally of the valve and spring biased toopen position, a motor mounted on said ventilator, means connecting saidmotor to a source of power associated with said engine and operativewhen said engine is operating to actuate said motor, and meansconnecting said motor to said valve element to move said element toclosed position against its spring bias when said motor is actuated.

8. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuumoperated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of asump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and havinga valve element extending externally of the valve, a motor, meansconnecting said motor to a source of power associated with said engineand operative when said engine is operating to actuate said motor, andmeans connecting said motor to said valve element to move said elementto closed position when said motor is actuated.

9. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcase ofan internal combustion engine, a valve body connected to the bottom ofsaid ventilator and forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of theventilator, a valve element slidable in said passage and spring biasedto open the same, a vacuum motor Supported on ai ventilator and havingan inlet 6 adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an engine,and means connecting said motor to said valve element whereby theapplication of vacuum to said motor will close said valve.

10. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcaseof an internal combustion engine, a valve body connected to the bottomof said ventilator and forming a valve passage opening to the bottom ofthe ventilator, a valve element slidable in said passage and springbiased to open the same, a solenoid supported on said ventilator andadapted to be electrically connected to the ignition system of anengine, and means connecting said solenoid to said valve element wherebythe energization of said solenoid with said system will close saidvalve.

11. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcaseof an internal combustion engine, said ventilator having a sump therein,a conduit connected to said ventilator and forming a valve passageopening to the bottom of the sump, a valve element slidable into saidpassage and spring biased to open the same, a driving means supported onsaid ventilator adapted to be connected to a source of power associatedwith an engine, and means connecting said driving means to said valveelement whereby operation of the engine and actuation of sai means willclose said valve.

12. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcaseof an internal combustion engine, said ventilator having a sump therein,a conduit forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of the sump, avalve element movable into said passage, a driving means adapted to beconnected to a source of power associated with an engine, and meansconnecting said driving means to said valve element whereby operation ofthe engine and actuation of said means will close said valve.

DEAN S. NUSBAUM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,525,187 Indlekofer Feb. 3, 1925 2,252,974 Lowther Aug. 19,1941

